How to Write a Marketing Research Paper

How to Write a Marketing Research Paper The necessity of writing research papers is like a ghost persistently following the students in all of the educational establishments. There seems to be no way out except mastering the art of writing research papers which includes outlining, composing, and formatting. The need to write good research papers is quite common among marketing students as well as students in other fields of study. They face the process of researching and writing research papers for their studies in marketing at least several times in their academic career. If you are one of those poor souls, you have definitely to come face-to-face with the challenges of completing a research paper associated with your study of marketing. First of all you need to choose the topic for your future paper. The choice may be done at the suggestion of your scientific advisor or professor or by you, the author, based on your scientific preferences and interests. The topic selecting procedure should be followed by a careful review of the existing literature devoted to your marketing problem. It is almost impossible to be fresh and unique when selecting the topic, so you will need to settle for the fact that history repeats itself. This means that several marketing researchers have previously investigated the problem chosen by you. You will, of course, build upon their knowledge and do your best to incorporate the already existing works. Be sure to use only reliable sources (encyclopedias and solid scientific magazines etc.), rather than utilizing less than reputable resources. Once the literature review is completed, you are to state the purpose, problem and methodology for your proposed study. Depending on the purpose of your study, the methodology employed for Marketing research paper may vary. You are welcome to choose a wide range of research techniques (product or package evaluation, advertising research, win-loss evaluation etc.) as well as advanced analytics (choice modeling, sales forecasting) or data collection methodologies (tracking or online research etc.). The selected investigation method will lead you to forming the strategies of your research – first, ranking, and minor ones. General guidelines for the formatting of your marketing research paper may be provided by you tutor. The tutor will explain to you how the final paper should appear, which aspects are to be touched upon etc. Your paper will be greatly enhanced by the use of such visual aids as tables, charts, diagrams and so on. This will help to engage the reader in your findings and conclusions. The purposeful use of visuals will also lend your paper a scholarly feel. When the process of Marketing research paper composing comes to the finalizing stages, you are to proofread and spell-check your work carefully. The top-off procedure of â€Å"polishing† the paper needs thoroughness and attention. Do not be in a hurry; try to look at the paper with fresh eyes. This will make the process of reading your paper easier and more enjoyable for your intended audience if you manage to correct all the errors.

Definition and Examples of Rhetorical Schemes

Definition and Examples of Rhetorical Schemes Scheme is a term in classical rhetoric for any one of the figures of speech: a deviation from conventional word order. Here are examples of scheme in use by famous authors, as well as definitions from other texts: Examples and Observations Schemes include such devices as alliteration and assonance (that purposefully arrange sounds, as in The Leith police dismisseth us) and antithesis, chiasmus, climax, and anticlimax (that arrange words for effect, as in the cross-over phrasing One for all and all for one).(Tom McArthur, The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford Univ. Press, 1992)There is a theory dating back to classical times that rhetorical figures or schemes originated as forms of expression used naturally by people in states of extreme emotion (Brinton 1988:163), that they are, in fact, imitative of emotional states. . . . Thus, rhetorical figures of omission, unusual word order or repetition are held to be imitative of actual disturbances of language in emotional contexts, which, in turn, reflect feelings and emotional states such as anger, grief, indignation or consternation...Now while it is undoubtedly true that such schemes as aposiopesis (breaking off an utterance before it is completed), hyperbat on or repetition are frequently related to emotional states, it must also be realised that the whole reservoir of rhetorical schemes represents a system which provides a multitude of possibilities of expressing meanings, among which emotions form only one variety.  (Wolfgang G. Mà ¼ller, Iconicity and Rhetoric, The Motivated Sign, ed. by Olga Fischer and Max Nnny. John Benjamins, 2001) Functions of Schemes In addition to structuring reality, the schemes help writers organize and orchestrate their relationships with readers. As vehicles for social interaction, they can Signal the level of formality (high, middle, low) as well [as] local shifts across these levels;Control the emotional intensity of prosecranking it up here, ratcheting it down there;Showcase the writers wit and command over his or her medium;Enlist readers into collaborative relationships, inviting them to desire the completion of a pattern once they get its gist (Burke, Rhetoric of Motives 58-59).    (Chris Holcomb and M. Jimmie Killingsworth, Performing Prose: The Study and Practice of Style in Composition. SIU Press, 2010) Tropes and Schemes in The Garden of Eloquence [Henry] Peacham [in The Garden of Eloquence, 1577] divides his treatment of figurative language into tropes and schemes, the difference being that in the Trope there is a chaunge of signifycation, but not in the Scheme (sig. E1v). Tropes are further divided into tropes of words and sentences, and schemes are also divided into grammatical and rhetorical schemes. Grammatical schemes deviate from customs of speaking and writing and are subdivided into orthographical and syntactical schemes. Rhetorical schemes add distinction and doe take away the wearinesse of our common and dayly speach, and doe fashion a pleasant, sharpe, evident and gallant kinde of speaking, giving unto matters great strength, perspecuitie and grace (sig. H4v). Rhetorical schemes apply to words, sentences and amplification. (Grant M. Boswell, Henry Peacham. Encyclopedia of Rhetoric and Composition: Communication From Ancient Times to the Information Age, ed. by Theresa Enos. Routledge, 2010) Etymology From the Greek schema   , form, shape Pronunciation: SKEEM Also Known As: figure

Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing - Case Study Example The climbs are segmented as ‘the express climb’, ‘the discovery climb’ and ‘the bridge climb’ (Bridgeclimb, n.d.). While doing so the company has also added many feathers to its cap. One such feat achieved by the company is to get its name enlisted in the Guinness book of world records for making most flags flown on the Sydney Bridge (Worldrecordsacademy, 2008). Market Market plays the most pivotal role for a company to successfully demeanor it business. Market consists of a cluster of users who exhibits some similar requirements and desires. In other words a market is set of possible buyers of a product and service (Allen, Macy & Hutchison, 2009, p.21). Therefore for a company to perform its operation effectively in the market place it needs to segment its intended market appropriately (Croft, 1994, p.1). In the context of Bridge climb Sydney their main market lies with the adventure tourism group. The market also lies with those persons who li ke elevation and high altitudes from the ground but not adventurous. The company also has its market scattered all over the world, as visitors from different part of the world arrives to experience it. Segmentation Market segmentation can be defined as the way by which the companies segments the market into various subgroups based on the similar characteristics of the consumer (Bose, 2004, p.513). There are many available alternatives for segmenting the market such as geographic segmentation, demographic segmentation and psychographic segmentation among many others. These day’s companies design their goods and services based on the needs of consumers. Therefore marketing segmentation and market targeting is considered as an essential and central element of marketing activities (Kamakura & Wedel, 2000, p.3). The concept of marketing segmentation helps in understanding the needs of consumers more effectively than its competitors. However on the other hand market targeting is ba sed upon the segmentation and its decision to cater to that segment (Clemente, 2002, p.253). Therefore in the context of the company, segmentation can be done on the basis of geography i.e. the location of the consumers. The geographical segmentation can be used for segmenting the tourist from different countries and accordingly offering products and prices for them. The customers which exhibit adventurous and exploration attitudes are one of the major segments of the company. Apart from that bases of segmentation the company can even undergo niche market segmentation strategy for segmenting the market. This will also reduce the number of competitors for the company. Now according to the services offered by the company the segmentation can be regular visitors, adventurous visitors. The company needs to target adventurous travelers who will surely avail the opportunities. For adventurous travelers the company can cater them by offering ‘discovery climb’ and ‘bridge climb’. These ultimate climbs will surely satisfy the needs of those customers. And for targeting the regular visitors the company can make use of ‘express climb’, which is also conducted in a short period. Therefore the market can be segmented into regular and adventurous visitors. Some of the strategies which can be undertaken by the company for targeting adventurous customer group are as follows:- Product Strategy: - A product strategy is a pivotal function of the company. It resides at the heart of a company’

Geology of Venezuela Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Geology of Venezuela - Research Paper Example On the other hand, Angel Falls is an important geographical landmark of Venezuela since it ranks as the largest waterfall worldwide. Another geographical feature like Lake Maracaibo in South America is found in Venezuela. Archeologists also carried out studies and found that Venezuela has the oldest rocks in the world (Padoan, Rossetti, & Rubatto, 2014). Nonetheless, the rich biodiversity finds its basis from the tropical climate that favors many wildlife habitats like mountains, plains, and islands. Venezuela’s geographical features explain its importance to tourism activities (Padoan, Rossetti, & Rubatto, 2014). Apart from one of the longest rivers in the continent, the countrys coastline is the longest along the Caribbean region. Natural resource wise, Venezuela is rich in oil reserves as well as natural gas. Studies show that Venezuela’s oil reserves are some of the largest in the world. In 2011 for instance, the country’s government confirmed that Venezuela has a lot of petroleum reserves above significant oil reserves of the Middle East Delta (Miller, Vandome, & Mcbrewer, 2009). Oil reserves also exist along the Orinoco River in the form of oil sands as conventional form of oil reserves. In terms of biodiversity, the country is among the top 20 high-diverse countries in the world. An outstanding 40% of the country is protected areas (Silvano, 2008). Therefore, research seeks to discuss some of the natural resources present in Venezuela as well as geogr aphical features that add to the importance of the country to the South American continent. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the West Hemisphere (Silvano, 2008). As at 2011, the country’s oil reserves were valued at 297.6 barrels activities (Padoan, Rossetti, & Rubatto, 2014). Some of the economically important natural resources in Venezuela include natural gas and petroleum. Mining of these natural resources accounts for a good percentage of the countrys GDP. On the other

Self-Esteem and Child Development Essay Example for Free

Self-Esteem and Child Development Essay Please post questions and answers on the Module Two discussion boards. Unless otherwise instructed, you should submit at minimum of one full paragraph for each question. Each discussion question is worth 5 points. Use the rubric to guide you. Module Two: Discussion Questions 1. What role do you think discipline plays in developing a child’s self-esteem? What forms of discipline best serve the self-esteem of the child or adolescent? -I think discipline plays an importing role in developing a child’s self-esteem. It determines the way children collaborates with the public and their effects to what may happen to the child depending on the way they were disciplined as a minor. For example, punishing to harsh can scar them for life and they can grow with a low self-esteem and not giving them enough punishment can make them into children’s that doesn’t obey their parents and wanting to do whatever they want. 2. List and discuss how activities, clubs, or sports, impact the self-esteem of children and parents. Provide at least two activities, clubs, or sports in your answer. -Children that are in sports, clubs etc. are more likely to have a high self-esteem because self-esteem usually comes from accomplishments and success. Such as basketball players working hard on different techniques on how to win a game that takes time, effort, and determination. But after that big win, the trophies, the crowds going wild it puts the child on top making them trilled over what they have accomplished. Also being involved in a debate club gives you that boost of excitement knowing that whatever your thinking is being heard and your knowledge is being shared , after winning versus someone else gives you the high self-esteem because you just accomplished a great self-achievement.

India Risk Analysis Essay -- essays research papers

Global investors, markets, and foreign governments are often held responsible by their citizens or shareholders to ensure the potential is measured against the risks when investing. In recent years the strength of India on the global market has continued to show signs of political and economical growth that makes regions in India attractive investments by various markets. India has taken steps to recognize these opportunities to gain Foreign Direct Investment by realigning government policy towards new business potential. Such potential is often marked by â€Å"it’s too good to be true† as global investors determine the risk through in depth analysis of regions around the world and much like team A has outlined for Kerala, India. Foreign Trade and Investment Investment in India has increased significantly since the 2001 Indian Government’s approval of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) reform. In mid-year meetings of 2001, the Government liberalized the restrictions on FDI into India in select industries. The infrastructure of the Indian Government is increasingly interested and actively pursuing FDI from countries such as the United States. India is currently offering automatic business approvals for new businesses that have an initial investment of 100% foreign capital in industries that are considered tourism based. (Indian Embassy, 2001) According to the 2001 guidelines issued under section 4 (iv.), Businesses that are considered to be â€Å"commercial premises, hotels, resorts, city and regional level urban infrastructure facilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬  which qualify for up to100% FDI. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to India amounting to US$4.06 billion were received during the financial year 2001-2002, with $2.46 billion (USD) received from the U.S. just in 2000-01 alone. This marked a 66% increase from the previous year. According to FDI Magazine, India was the number 3 recipient of FDI from January of 2002 to June of 2004. India had a total of 41 Foreign Direct Investment projects, beaten only by the United Kingdom with 53 and China with 54. FDI Magazine shares this observation: â€Å"Noticeable among the results for the second quarter is the rise of China to become the number one destination for foreign investment by number of projects. However, perhaps more significant is the increase in the number of projects heading for India, up over 77% year on year while the jobs creat... ...he World Wide Web at the University of Phoenix Library February 28, 2005:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://80-online.culturegrams.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/secure/world/world_country.php?contid=3&wmn=Asia&cid=75&cn=India No author. N.D. Retrieved from the World Wide Web February 28, 2005:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.country-studies.com/india/labor.html Singh, G. (2005, February 26). India has just 4% share of Asia media spend. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News [ProQuest]. Pg.1. University of Phoenix Online Collection. Available: http://proquest.umi.com: (2005, March 1). The Economist. Retrieved on February 27, 2005 from: http://www.economist.com/countries/India/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-Political%20Forces The Economy Watch website provides current economical and financial news for most foreign entities at http://www.economywatch.com/ The International Trade Reporter website provides trade laws and regulations for most foreign entities at http://www.bna.com/itr/index.html U.S. Department of State; Kerala-Republic of India; United States Department of State, Public Domain; Accessed 18Feb2005 at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/3797.htm India Risk Analysis Essay -- essays research papers Global investors, markets, and foreign governments are often held responsible by their citizens or shareholders to ensure the potential is measured against the risks when investing. In recent years the strength of India on the global market has continued to show signs of political and economical growth that makes regions in India attractive investments by various markets. India has taken steps to recognize these opportunities to gain Foreign Direct Investment by realigning government policy towards new business potential. Such potential is often marked by â€Å"it’s too good to be true† as global investors determine the risk through in depth analysis of regions around the world and much like team A has outlined for Kerala, India. Foreign Trade and Investment Investment in India has increased significantly since the 2001 Indian Government’s approval of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) reform. In mid-year meetings of 2001, the Government liberalized the restrictions on FDI into India in select industries. The infrastructure of the Indian Government is increasingly interested and actively pursuing FDI from countries such as the United States. India is currently offering automatic business approvals for new businesses that have an initial investment of 100% foreign capital in industries that are considered tourism based. (Indian Embassy, 2001) According to the 2001 guidelines issued under section 4 (iv.), Businesses that are considered to be â€Å"commercial premises, hotels, resorts, city and regional level urban infrastructure facilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬  which qualify for up to100% FDI. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to India amounting to US$4.06 billion were received during the financial year 2001-2002, with $2.46 billion (USD) received from the U.S. just in 2000-01 alone. This marked a 66% increase from the previous year. According to FDI Magazine, India was the number 3 recipient of FDI from January of 2002 to June of 2004. India had a total of 41 Foreign Direct Investment projects, beaten only by the United Kingdom with 53 and China with 54. FDI Magazine shares this observation: â€Å"Noticeable among the results for the second quarter is the rise of China to become the number one destination for foreign investment by number of projects. However, perhaps more significant is the increase in the number of projects heading for India, up over 77% year on year while the jobs creat... ...he World Wide Web at the University of Phoenix Library February 28, 2005:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://80-online.culturegrams.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/secure/world/world_country.php?contid=3&wmn=Asia&cid=75&cn=India No author. N.D. Retrieved from the World Wide Web February 28, 2005:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.country-studies.com/india/labor.html Singh, G. (2005, February 26). India has just 4% share of Asia media spend. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News [ProQuest]. Pg.1. University of Phoenix Online Collection. Available: http://proquest.umi.com: (2005, March 1). The Economist. Retrieved on February 27, 2005 from: http://www.economist.com/countries/India/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-Political%20Forces The Economy Watch website provides current economical and financial news for most foreign entities at http://www.economywatch.com/ The International Trade Reporter website provides trade laws and regulations for most foreign entities at http://www.bna.com/itr/index.html U.S. Department of State; Kerala-Republic of India; United States Department of State, Public Domain; Accessed 18Feb2005 at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/3797.htm

Liminality in Dracula Essay

History has taught us that rebelling against your people or religion almost always results in displeasure, as the members of the community usually frown upon it. Throughout the novel Each Man’s Son by Hugh MacLennan, there are two themes which are linked to this topic of defying your origins, though never plainly affirmed: the Celtic identity and the Puritanical predestination-like values. Not conforming to these ways of life demonstrates two themes at which Archie the fighter and Ainslie the dreamer display: the attempt to foster new values will doom you to failure and resisting your religion will only let you yearn for escape but haunt you forever. This paper, will first analyze the meaning of these two themes; second show that Archie fights against the Celtic identity and that Ainslie tries to escape the Puritanical values. First, it is suitable to grasp onto these concepts with the history from the novel concerning the Celtics and the Puritans since it frames the foundational richness of the story. In Each Man’s Son the symbolic references on the history concerning the Celtic identity is manifested as â€Å"a Homeric people† in ultimate solitude, which proves to be symbolic due to the fact that it ties meaning to the Highland people as a â€Å"desperate and poetic/race of hunters, shepherds and warriors† (MacLennan 1, 2). The novel is full of richness, which provides ironic information about the people: who were found â€Å"older than France† with â€Å"no organization† (MacLennan 25-5). This characteristic given to the men of Cape Breton is highly relevant to the plot as Archie choses to literally fight the regulatory social norms of the Celtic identity when he follows his dreams to become an American boxer. In the novel, the Celtic identity is in direct conflict with Puritan values within certain characters, especially Ainslie. Presbyterians note that they â€Å"live and die under the wrath of an arbitrary God who will forgive only a handful of His elect on the Day of Judgment† (MacLennan 2). The value of the quote symbolizes an underlining view on the Puritan religion as it describes how the Calvinists must live a basic life in order to be resurrected with eternal life. In the Bible, which Puritans follow unfailingly, it is written, â€Å"you must be born from above† meaning that you must have â€Å"been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father† (John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:2 NIV). Furthermore, religion takes a crowning importance in the novel as it acts as the basic yet powerful feature of the story. Numerous characters struggle to adopt their identity, namely Doctor Ainslie for he attempts to darken his religious distinctiveness. The lacing of the Celtic identity and the Puritan religion represents tension, which Archie the fighter and Ainslie the dreamer must overcome. Second, Archie is a clear example of a character who conflicts with the Celtic identity because although he is acclaimed as the â€Å"bravest man in Cape Breton†, â€Å"fierce and unpredictable†, unlike the flock of people, he was a â€Å"hero whom nobody understood and everyone admired†; unfortunately, he is also destined to fail (MacLennan 12-8-6). â€Å"Archie is a hero† with grandiose â€Å"physical strength† who was loved â€Å"because he was giving significance, even a crude beauty, to the clumsy courage they all felt in themselves† (MacLennan 19-9). Generally Celtics feel that destiny works against them; they feel that luck must have been against them. This illustrates that the repercussion of rebelling against the Celtic identity is absolutely forbidden. The Celtic character is normally condemned to a life of simplicity, total depravity and unconditional fellowship of God and as Archie ventures the unknown he distorts the norm. Animalistic Archie emphasizes that some men will â€Å"live their whole lives like oxes and cows† and that he is â€Å"not one of them† this statement, in other words, means that Archie does not intend on living a reclusive life as he fully intends on going out into the world, in spite of the consequences, to create a new life for himself and his family. He had â€Å"left his home to find wider opportunities in the United States† (MacLennan 3). Ironically, as Archie attempts to make money and follow his dream of becoming a boxer he refuses to obey the Celtic norm and is doomed to fail; he is left defeated by his embedded Celtic identity. The final character, which shows prominent struggles, concerning following norms is Ainslie: the dreamer. This is due to the fact that he is resistant to his Puritan religion, which leaves him yearning for an escape from societal pressures. Quite like Archie, Ainslie is also hopeless, yet in different matters: his religion haunts him not only consciously but also unconsciously in dreams as he is disturbed by religious stories. Traditionally, Puritans live a life in profound guilt, constant criticism and austerity because they believe in predestination at which God has chosen the elect to enter heaven. Though he is living in the pressures of this community he continuously denies his belief in God however it is hard to believe that he is a nonbeliever for he continuously shows signs of religious identity. Ainslie craves for a purpose in his life, an attainable goal a dream to escape this community, yet as the novel unfolds he is left haunted forever by his religious mental state. Ironically, because of the fact that he resists his religion and yearns for an escape, he will be left him undeniably haunted forever. In summary, historical details, Archie and Ainslie in Each Man’s Son emphasize conflicts between the Celtic identity and the Puritan religion. Contrasting the two characters, I find it much more rewarding to explore who you are and discover your identity instead of fighting or denying it because then you will not become a failure or be tormented by it. Unlike Archie and Ainslie, I had opportunities to participate in accomplishments that have given me a positive understanding of my identity while I was growing up, which undeniably shaped who I am today. Works Cited MacLennan, Hugh. Each Man’s Son. Toronto: The New Canadian Library, 2003. Print. New International Version Holy Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986. Print.

The Lack Of Cultural Diversity In Small Towns

People in various parts of the world differ in certain hereditary features, including the color of their skin, the texture of their hair, their facial features, their stature, and the shape of their heads. But by the same token, the features that humans everywhere share are substantially larger and of considerably greater importance than their differences. The disparities between blacks and whites are not virtually as remarkable as between carnivores and humans. But physical distinctions, such as a handicap or race, become strengthened by societal insights, which consequently generate bigger spaces between people (Carbaugh, 1990).Most people belong to a number of groups, some voluntary, some by birth, adoption, or selection into those groups. Salient groups, the ones we consciously value, provide a source of identity. Structurally, these are microcultures or co-cultures within a macroculture. A person might identify an elderly microculture, a cowboy microculture, an Appalachian micro culture, or a volunteer association microculture. Each group exhibits some similarities to the large culture, but also some differences (Locke and Stern, 1942).Within the United States, blacks, Hispanics, Indians, Asian-Americans, and Jews have been the victims of prejudice and discrimination. Throughout much of the nations’ history, they have been confined to subordinate statuses that have not been justified by their individual abilities and talents (Frazier, 1957). The conceptual baggage we often carry with us, such as stereotypes of other racial groups, can easily blind us to the fact that, in many instancesm few significant differences exist between two people.Real cultural differences do not always exist beyond ethnicity and race, In a diverse society, we simply magnify the immediate through stereotypes (Frazier, 1957). The great merit of culture is that it permits human beings to circumvent the slowness of genetic evolution. Behavior patterns that are wired into organis ms by their genes do not allow rapid adaptation to changing conditions. In contrast, cultural change can be rapid. Indeed, some social scientists contend that cultural evolution has swamped biological evoulution as the chief source of behavior change for human beings.The functioning of the human brain is no longer rapidly prescribed by genetic programs (Locke and Stern, 1942). Instead, genes have allowed the construction of a liberated brain, one that permits a flexible repertoire of responses. The more culture human beings have acquired, the more biological capacity for culture has then evolved, leading to more culture, and so on. The fact that culture has increasingly usurped nature as the primary moving force in human development has implications for cultural unity and diversity (Locke and Stern, 1942). Cultural diversity may also be found within a society.In many modern nations, the members of some groups participate in the main culture of the society while simulatenously sharin g with one another a number of unique values, norms, traditions, and lifestyles. These distinctive cultural patterns are termed a subculture. Subcultures abound in American life, and find expression in various religious, racial, ethnic, occupational, and age groups (Locke and Stern, 1942). Generally, when we communicate with members of our own culture, we have internalized the cultural rules that govern the behavior within the context, and we are able to communicate without giving much thought to those rules.But when we are engaged in intercultural encounters, we must be aware of how our culture influences the communication context; otherwise, we may stumble upon a variety of surprises (Castro, 2003). Obviously, there are large global regions and national cultures that are structurally and organically bound together in a social system where people have developed a cultural network. Examples include what might be globally described as North American culture, Latin American culture, A frican culture, Middle Eastern culture, European culture, and Asian culture.These global differences, marked by geopolitical factors and national identity, fit into the study of culture influence on diversity (Harris and Moran, 1979). Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of a multicultural society, though, is the form of acculturation used. There are three processes through which disparities between the dominant culture and minority cultures can be treated (Castro, 2003). The first of these, assimilation, is a unilateral process by which minority culture members adopt the norms and values of the dominant group in the society (Harris and Moran, 1979).The second, cultural separatism, is a situation where there is little adaptation on either side. Finally, pluralism is a process by which both minority and majority culture members adopt some norms of the other group. Perhaps, the pluralistic form of acculturation is the defining feature of a multicultural society. It is only t hrough pluralism that members of any society can come to understand and truly value cultural and gender diversity (Harris and Moran, 1979). A shared cultural background makes people feel more comfortable with other people from their own culture.Many people initially may feel confused and uneasy when they deal with people of another culture. The discomfort that people often feel when they have contact with an unfamiliar culture is called culture shock. Culture shock usually passes if a person stays in a new culture long enough to understand it and get used to its ways (Lambert and Taylor, 1990). Immigrants need to cope with the cultural changes brought about by continuous firsthand contact with another culture. One of the chief characteristics of the acculturation process is that elements of the original culture can never be completely erased.An awareness of American culture along with examples of contrasting cultures contributes to the individual’s understanding of her- or hi mself as a cultural being (Chiswick, 1982). The Old Order Amish are a case in point. The Amish are a religious sect that originated in Germany and Switzerland during the reformaiton conflicts of the sixteenth century. Because of religious persecution, many Amish families live on farms, although a minority work in skilled crafts like carpentry, furniture-makingm and blacksmithing.They believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible and turn their backs on modern standards of dress, â€Å"progressive† morality, â€Å"worldly† amusement, automobiles, and higher education. Above all, the Amish value hard physical work and believe that those who do not find joy in work are somehow abnormal. Far from being ashamed of their nonconformity to worldly standards, the Amish pride themselves on being a peculiar people who separate themselves from the world (Castro, 2003).Within the American society, there exist many subcultures, or ways of life that differ from one another in many important respects. Some of these subcultures exist partly because the nation has been settled over the years by people from many different parts of the world, bringing with them their own particular customs and values. Whatever the customs and rules may be, every culture and every subculture molds the settlers accordingly (Harris and Moran, 1979). Learning how to be open and flexible helps facilitate strangers’ adaptation by enabling them to endure stressful challenges and maximize learning.Openness implies the immigrant’s willingness to accept change and exposure to new ideas (Chavez, 2001). Flexibility also means that communicatively competent immigrants develop a repertoire of interpersonal tactics. As sociologist Foster put in an analogy, â€Å"the better international negotiators are ultimately pragmatic. They are not oaks; rather they are more like willows. Unable to predict every situation, every twist and turn, even in domestic situation, they know that it i s nearly impossible to do so in a cross-cultural one† (Locke and Stern, 1942).The immigrant’s efforts at being adaptable will be greatly facilitated if he or she learns how to tolerate a degree of ambiguity while trying to analyze what role to play. The intercultural encounter is full of potential ambiguity. The ability to react to new and ambiguous situations with minimal discomfort has long been thought to be an important asset when adjusting to a new culture. If the immigrant is self-conscious, tense, and anxious when confronted with the unknown, he is apt to use his energy to alleviate his frustration instead of trying to decide how best to adapt to the person and situation (Locke and Stern, 1942).Some non-Hispanics in the United States fear that the country's rapidly growing Hispanic population will not adopt the language, customs, and viewpoint of the dominant, English-speaking culture. Some of these people fear that their way of life will be replaced by the †Å"foreign ways† of Hispanic Americans (Sanchez, 1995). Others worry that a large Spanish-speaking minority will become a permanent underclass, locked out of economic advancement by a lack of fluency in English. Many historians and sociologists discount such fears. They point to the many immigrant groups that have become part of American culture.They also note that except for recent immigrants, most Hispanic Americans can speak English (Hinkle, 1994). No society is so isolated that it does not come in contact with other societies. When contact occurs, societies borrow cultural traits from one another. As a result, cultural traits and patterns tend to spread from the society in which they originated (Chavez, 2001). It seems logical therefore that a change in an attitude, caused by new beliefs or new emotional responses, should a cause a change in behavior. Yet, the sequence of events is often exactly the opposite.In many cases, the change in behavior comes first, and this new be havior creates the change in attitude (Locke and Stern, 1942). New social situations often push the immigrants in the direction of changes in behavior, and these in turn often lead to changes in attitudes. This has been especially noticeable in recent years in the attitudes of whites toward blacks and of blacks toward whites. In general, it has been found that people who have worked with members of the other race hold more favorable attitudes, while those who have had no interracial contacts tend to feel less favorable.Undoubtedly, the explanation is that new forms of behavior have produced attitude changes (Chavez, 2001). At times, the norms, values, and lifestyles of a subculture are substantially at odds with those of the larger society and constitute a counterculture. A counterculture rejects many of the behavioral standrads and guideposts that hold in the dominant culture. The hangloose orientation found among some youth in the early 1970s had a good many countercultural overto nes.The young people questioned the legitimacy of the Establishment, rejected the hard-work ethic of their elders, turned to drugs in a search for new experiences, and dropped out of middle-class life. Controversy surrounding youthful involvement in the hangloose counterculture resurfaced in the late 1980s when Judge Douglas H, Ginsburg was compelled to withdraw as a Supreme Court nominee after it was disclosed that he had used marijuana as a youthl the debate widened when Democratic presidential contenders Senator Albert Gore, Jr. , and Bruce Babbitt admitted that they too had used marijuana in te 1960s. Delinquent gangs, Satanic cults, and the survivalist right are other illustrations of counterculture groups (Hinkle, 1994).People of one culture who move to a country where another culture dominates may give up their old ways and become part of the dominant culture. The process by which they do this is called assimilation. Through assimilation, a minority group eventually disappear s because its members lose the cultural characteristics that set them apart.Assimilation is the process through which one social and cultural group becomes part of another social and cultural group (Locke and Stern, 1942). In a diverse society, dominant groups and minority groups often approach assimilation differently. Within the United States, two views toward assimilation have dominated. One, the melting pot tradition, has seen assimilation as a process whereby peoples and cultures would fuse within the nation to produce a new people and a new civilization.The other, the Americanization tradition, has viewed American culture as an essentially finished product on the Anglo-Saxon pattern, and has insisted that immigrants promptly give up their cultural traits for those of the dominant American group (Hinkle, 1994). To sum it up, recognition of multiculturalism and cultural diversity are key to developing a climate of a healthy relationship and respect among the peoples. While racia l anxieties exist in modern society, the sundry peoples may blend merely with others of common cultural upbringing.Works Cited Carbaugh, Donal. Cultural Communication and Intercultural Contact. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1990. Castro, Vanessa Smith. Acculturation and Psychological Adaptation. Greenwood Press, 2003. Chavez, Leo R. Covering Immigration: Popular Images and the Politics of the Nation. University of California Press, 2001. Chiswick, Barry R. The Gateway: U. S. Immigration Issues and Policies. American Enterprise Institute, 1982. Frazier, Franklin. Race and Culture Contacts in the Modern World. Alfred A. Knopf Publishing, 1957.Harris, Philip R.and Moran, Robert T. Managing Cultural Differences. Texas: Gulf Publishing, 1979. Hinkle, Gisela J. The Development of Modern Sociology: Its Nature and Growth in the United States. Random House, 1994. Lambert, Wallace E. and Donald M. Taylor. Coping with Cultural and Racial Diversity in Urban America. Praeger Publishers, 1990. Loc ke, Alain and Bernhard J. Stern. When Peoples Meet: A Study in Race and Culture Contacts. Progressive Education Association, 1942. Saney, Parviz. Crime and Culture in America: A Comparative Perspective. Greenwood Press, 2000.

How Teachers Should Rethink the Summer Work Packet

How Teachers Should Rethink the Summer Work Packet Simply stated: Summer vacation has a negative impact on academic performance. In the book  Influences And Effect Sizes Related To Student Achievement  (updated 2016) by John Hattie and Greg Yates,  39 studies  were used  to rank the effect of summer vacation on student achievement. The findings using this data  are posted on the  Visible Learning  website. They noted that  summer vacation has one of the greatest negative effects (  -.02 effect) on student learning. To combat this negative impact, many teachers in middle and high schools are encouraged to create discipline-specific summer assignment packets. These packets are an attempt to equalize academic practice for all students during summer  vacation. The summer assignment packets that teachers distribute at the end of a school year are designed for students to practice  a few hours every week  throughout the summer. What happens in reality, however, is that completing the summer packet often turns into a  contentious activity. Students may wait until the last possible moment to do schoolwork or lose the packet entirely. Additionally, depending on the grade level, subject, or teacher, summer work packets vary in quality, length, and intensity. Examples of high school summer assignments on the Internet vary from two pages of geometry that can be completed online to  22 pages of geometry problems that must be downloaded to complete. Multiple Advanced Placement courses, such as AP English Literature, show the disparity in summer assignments with some schools offering a choice (Read three novels from this list) to a required five novels matched with pages and pages of worksheets. There is no standardized summer assignment packet for middle and high schools. Who Complains About Summer Assignment Packets? Complaints against the assigned summer work packets come from each of the stakeholders: parents, teachers, and students. Their complaints are understandable. Parents may  argue for freedom from summer assignment packets suggesting that â€Å"My child needs a break,† or  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Why must we do this to students every summer?† or This is more work for me than for my child! Teachers are not happy to begin the school year with a pile of summer assignment papers to grade. Despite their best intentions in creating the packets, they do not want to start the year collecting or chasing students for summer assignment work.   Harris Cooper,  chairman of the department of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, addressed these  concerns in his brief essay Forgotten on Vacation. His response was featured in  an editorial debate in the New York Times titled  The Crush of Summer Homework  in which several prominent educators were asked their opinions on summer assignments. Cooper was one who chose to respond as to how parents can meet the demands of the summer assignment packet: Parents, if the assignments are clear and reasonable, support the teachers. When your child says I’m bored (what parent hasn’t heard this on a rainy summer day?) suggest they work on an assignment. He also responded to the concerns of teachers: My advice? Teachers, you need to be careful about what and how much summer homework you assign. Summer homework shouldn’t be expected to overcome a student’s learning deficits; that’s what summer school is for. However, in another response, What Low Achievers Need,  Tyrone Howard, associate professor at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, suggested that summer assignment packets do not work. He offered an alternative to the summer assignment packet:   A better approach than homework is to have more intensive, small learning community-type summer school programs that last four to six weeks. Many educators who contributed to the NY Times debate   The Crush of Summer Homework  viewed summer assignments as  a measure of accountability or student responsibility rather than an academic practice. They argued that many of the students who do not complete homework assignments as academic practice during the school year are unlikely to complete summer assignments. Missing or incomplete work is reflected in student grades, and missing or incomplete summer assignments can damage a students grade point average (GPA). For example, some of the summer work assignments posted for high school students on the Internet include warnings, such as: Certain mathematical practice packets may take more than one day to complete. Dont wait until the last minute!The teacher will personally consult with the student and/or parent if  the student does not hand in the summer work packet on the first day of class.This work will be 3% of your first quarter grade. 10 points will be deducted for each day it is late. Seeing the impact on a students GPA for incomplete or missing summer work, many educators argue, If teachers cannot get students to turn in homework during the school year, especially when they see them every day, what is the chance that these summer work assignments will be completed? Student Complaints But  students are the  most vocal group arguing against the summer assignment packet.    The question  Should students be given summer homework?  was featured on  Ã‚  Debate.org.   18% Students say Yes to summer assignments82% Students say No  to summer assignments Comments from the debate arguing against summer assignments included: Summer homework takes around 3 days and it feels like the whole summer  (7th grade student).Mostly summer homework is just a review so you dont really learn anything. Im going into 8th grade and Im not learning anything its all a review for me.If a student really wants to learn, they will do extra work, without it being assigned.The homework should just be suggestions, to stop students from stressing out over work that probably wont even be checked. In contrast, there were some students who saw value in summer assignments, but most of these comments reflected the attitudes of students who already expected additional work from their advanced level classes. I, for example, am going to be enrolling in an Advanced Literature course next year and have been assigned two books to read this summer, an essay to write... this pushes me to find out more information about the subject matter that will be in the course. While students who take the advanced level (Advanced Placement, honors,  International Baccalaureate, or college credit courses) like the one above fully expect to engage in an academic practice, there are other students who do not see the importance keeping their academic skills sharp.  While a summer packet is designed to help all students, regardless of ability, the  student who may not complete the work may be the very student who most needs the practice. No Buy-in from Students In an interview posted on Great Schools,  Denise Pope, senior lecturer at the Stanford University School of Education and co-founder of  Challenge Success, a research, and student-intervention project, agrees that the months off for summer vacation is too long a time for students to not do anything, but she expressed concern stating  I’m not sure this idea of giving workbooks and pages and pages of handouts works.†Ã‚  Her reason for why summer assignments may not work?  No student buy-in: â€Å"In order for any learning to be retained, there has to be engagement on the part of the students.† She explained that students must be intrinsically motivated to complete the systematic practice that is designed for the summer assignments. Without student motivation, an adult must monitor the work, which according to Pope, puts a burden more on the parents.† What Does Work? Reading! One of the best research-based recommendations for summer assignments is to assign reading. Rather than spending the time to create and then grade a summer assignment packet that may or may not be done at all, educators should be encouraged to assign reading. This reading can be discipline specific, but by far, the best way to have students maintain academic skills during the summer-at every grade level- is to encourage their motivation to read. Offering students choice  in reading can improve their motivation and participation. In a meta-analysis titled  Reading Takes You Places: A Study of a Web-based Summer Reading Program,  Ya-Ling Lu, and Carol Gordon recorded ways that student choice in reading increased engagement which led to improved academic achievement. In the study the traditionally required reading lists of classics were replaced with   recommendations based on several of the following  research-based guidelines: 1. People who say they read more read better (Krashen 2004), therefore the primary purpose of the [summer] program is to encourage students to read more.2. In order to encourage students to read more, the primary purpose of summer reading is reading for fun rather than for academic purposes.3. Student choice is an important element in reading engagement (Schraw et al. 1998) including the choice to pursue personal reading interests.4. Materials and materials access can be Web-based (Note:  92% of teens report going online daily - including 24% who say they go online â€Å"almost constantly,† Pew  Research Center) The results showed an increase in student motivation and engagement, leading to improved academic performance. Summer Packets vs. Reading Despite the research  that proves motivation and systemic practice must be in place for summer assignment packets to help the student,  many teachers, particularly at the middle and high school levels, will still assign summer work packets. Their time and effort, however, may be better spent assigning reading in their content area, and where possible, offering student choice in reading. While summer vacation allows students to have time to play and to relax, why  not encourage students to practice over the summer the kind of academic practice that reinforces a life-long critical skill, the skill of reading? Additional Research on Summer Reading: Allington, Richard.  Summer Reading: Closing the Rich/Poor Reading Achievement Gap.  NY:  Teachers College Press, 2012. Fairchild, Ron. Summer: A Season When Learning is Essential. Afterschool Alliance. Center for Summer Learning. 2008. Web. afterschoolalliance.org/issue_briefs/issue_summer_33.pdf Kim, Jimmy. â€Å"Summer Reading and the Ethnic Achievement Gap.† Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR). 2004. Web. ala.org/research/librariesmatter/node/161 Krashen, Stephen. Free Reading. Pasco School District. School Library Journal. 2006. Web. psd1.org/cms/lib4/WA01001055/centricity/domain/34/admin/free reading (2).pdf National Summer Learning Association. n.d.  summerlearning.org/about-nsla/ Report of the National Reading Panel: Findings and Determinations of the National Reading Panel by Topic Areas.† National Institute of Health. 2006. Web. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/nrp/Pages/findings.aspx

Olympic Country Codes

Olympic Country Codes Each country has its three-letter abbreviation or code that is used during The Olympic Games to represent that country. The following is a list of the 204 countries that are recognized by the  IOC (International Olympic Committee) as National Olympic Committees. An asterisk (*) indicates a territory and not an  independent country; a listing of the independent countries of the world is available. Three-Letter Olympic Country Abbreviations Afghanistan - AFGAlbania - ALBAlgeria - ALGAmerican Samoa* - ASAAndorra - ANDAngola - ANGAntigua and Barbuda - ANTArgentina - ARGArmenia - ARMAruba* - ARUAustralia - AUSAustria - AUTAzerbaijan - AZEThe Bahamas - BAHBahrain - BRNBangladesh - BANBarbados - BARBelarus - BLRBelgium - BELBelize - BIZBermuda* - BERBenin - BENBhutan - BHUBolivia - BOLBosnia and Herzegovina - BIHBotswana - BOTBrazil - BRAThe British Virgin Islands* - IVBBrunei - BRUBulgaria - BULBurkina Faso - BURBurundi - BDICambodia - CAMCameroon - CMRCanada - CANCape Verde - CPVCayman Islands* - CAYCentral African Republic - CAFChad - CHAChile - CHIChina - CHNColombia - COLComoros - COMCongo, Republic of the - CGOCongo, Democratic Republic of the - CODThe Cook Islands* - COKCosta Rica - CRCCote dIvoire - CIVCroatia - CROCuba - CUBCyprus - CYPCzech Republic - CZEDenmark - DENDjibouti - DJIDominica - DMAThe Dominican Republic - DOMEast Timor (Timor-Leste) - TLSEcuador - ECUEgypt - EGYEl Salvador - ESAEquatorial Guinea - GEQ Eritrea - ERI Estonia - ESTEthiopia - ETHFiji - FIJFinland - FINFrance - FRAGabon - GABThe Gambia - GAMGeorgia - GEOGermany - GERGhana - GHAGreece - GREGrenada - GRNGuam* - GUMGuatemala - GUAGuinea - GUIGuinea-Bissau - GBSGuyana - GUYHaiti - HAIHonduras - HONHong Kong* - HKGHungary - HUNIceland - ISLIndia - INDIndonesia - INAIran - IRIIraq - IRQIreland - IRLIsrael - ISRItaly - ITAJamaica - JAMJapan - JPNJordan - JORKazakhstan - KAZKenya - KENKiribati - KIRKorea, North (PDR of Korea) - PRKKorea, South - KORKuwait - KUWKyrgyzstan - KGZLaos - LAOLatvia - LATLebanon - LIBLesotho - LESLiberia - LBRLibya - LBALiechtenstein - LIELithuania - LTULuxembourg - LUXMacedonia - MKD (Officially: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)Madagascar - MADMalawi - MAWMalaysia - MASThe Maldives - MDVMali - MLIMalta - MLTMarshall Islands - MHLMauritania - MTNMauritius - MRIMexico - MEXFederated States of Micronesia - FSMMoldova - MDAMonaco - MONMongolia - MGLMontenegro - MNEMorocco - MARMozambique - MOZMyanmar (Burma) - MYA Namibia - NAMNauru - NRUNepal - NEPNetherlands - NEDNew Zealand - NZLNicaragua - NCANiger - NIGNigeria - NGRNorway - NOROman - OMAPakistan - PAKPalau - PLWPalestine* - PLEPanama - PANPapua New Guinea - PNGParaguay - PARPeru - PERPhilippines - PHIPoland - POLPortugal - PORPuerto Rico* - PURQatar - QATRomania - ROURussian Federation - RUSRwanda - RWASaint Kitts and Nevis - SKNSaint Lucia - LCASaint Vincent and the Grenadines - VINSamoa - SAMSan Marino - SMRSao Tome and Principe - STPSaudi Arabia - KSASenegal - SENSerbia - SRBSeychelles - SEYSierra Leone - SLESingapore - SINSlovakia - SVKSlovenia - SLOSolomon Islands - SOLSomalia - SOMSouth Africa - RSASpain - ESPSri Lanka - SRISudan - SUDSuriname - SURSwaziland - SWZSweden - SWESwitzerland - SUISyria - SYRTaiwan (Chinese Taipei) - TPETajikistan - TJKTanzania - TANThailand - THATogo - TOGTonga - TGATrinidad and Tobago - TRITunisia - TUNTurkey - TURTurkmenistan - TKMTuvalu - TUVUganda - UGAUkraine - UKRUnited Arab Emirates - UAEUnited Ki ngdom (Great Britain) - GBR United States - USAUruguay - URUUzbekistan - UZBVanuatu - VANVenezuela - VENVietnam - VIEVirgin Islands* - ISVYemen - YEMZambia - ZAMZimbabwe - ZIM Notes on the List The territory formerly known as Netherlands Antilles (AHO) was dissolved in 2010 and subsequently lost its status as an official National Olympic Committee in 2011. The Olympic Committee of Kosovo (OCK) was established in 2003 but as of this writing, remains unrecognized as a National Olympic Committee due to Serbias dispute over Kosovos independence.

Health and safety issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health and safety issues - Essay Example hrough: improvement of management systems so as to reduce injuries at work, showing the board how important health and safety issues are, monitoring of health and safety issues in the organization and providing of detailed reports about their states not excluding their stray performances. In essence, World Health (1983) argues that health and safety management that is effective is fundamental to the well-being of employees, plays a vital role in ensuring that the reputation of the organization is maintained while at the same time helping in creating teams that are highly achieving. An organizations’ health and safety quality assurance department provides various means in which the organization can monitor its continued progress and advices the organization on legislative matters and inflicts best practices into employees (Miller, 1986). To maintain quality, the team carries out internal training to keep their staff up to date with legislative and suitable organizational practices in health and safety matters and related areas. In addition, solid systems for monitoring organizational progress are to be installed which enhance the technological sector of the company as well as the knowledge of the staff for they have to be trained effectively on how to use the systems thus moving them one step ahead of their competitors. Insurance can be obtained by the employer to cover a number of costs which the employer may have to cover as a consequence of poor health and safety procedures. Examples of such insurance are Liability insurance, vehicle insurance and building insurance. There are however a number of areas for which insurance cover cannot be obtained. What are these areas? According to HMSO (1974), hundreds of industries that operate in different areas/fields exist that have been excluded from the mandatory coverage since they are registered neither under Sections 1 nor 2 of the Workplace and Insurance Act, 1997 (South Australian, 1986). The areas not covered